How to Fix a Brake Light on a 1997 Toyota Corolla
- 1). Open the hood. Locate your '97 Corolla's battery and remove the negative cable from its post with a socket wrench.
- 2). Open the trunk lid at the rear of your Corolla. Move all of the contents within the trunk away from the license plate wall. Roll the trunk carpeting down and away from the effective brake light bulb.
- 3). Loosen the plastic twist nut at the top and center of the square brake light holding tray. The twist nut does not completely come out but only loosens from the taillight assembly.
- 4). Pull the brake light holding tray away from your Corolla's taillight assembly. The bottom of the tray has small tabs on the left and right sides, so pull the top portion of the tray out first.
- 5). Remove the burned-out brake light bulb from its socket on the holding tray. Push down on the top of the bulb lightly and rotate it a quarter-turn counterclockwise. Withdraw the bulb from its socket and discard it. Put on a fresh pair of latex gloves before you touch your Corolla's new brake light bulb.
- 6). Insert your new brake light bulb back into the socket on the holding tray. Push down on the new bulb carefully and rotate it a quarter-turn clockwise to lock it back into its socket on the tray.
- 7). Mount the brake light holding tray back against the taillight assembly. Insert the bottom-tabbed half of the tray first, followed by the top portion. Tighten the holding tray's twist nut by hand until secure.
- 8). Roll your Corolla's trunk carpeting back up into its original position against the license plate wall. Shut the trunk and proceed back to the front of the car. Connect and secure the negative cable back to its post on the car battery with a socket wrench. Shut the hood. With the help of an assistant, check the new brake light bulb, to assure it illuminates.
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